By Godson Aifamokhai
The exercise, tagged Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers, was coordinated by the Principal Security Officer (PSO) to Governor Monday Okpebholo in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, local vigilante groups, and other security agencies.
According to security reports, operatives trekked nearly five kilometers into the forest between Afuze and Ora, where they uncovered and destroyed the camps. Eribo Ewanta, a member of the squad, revealed that the hideouts showed signs of recent use.
“We discovered five camps with evidence that their occupants had only just fled. We saw fire still burning and food left on the fire, confirming that suspected kidnappers were actively using the area,” Ewanta stated.
The operation escalated into a gun battle at a riverbank when the suspects attempted to evade capture. Security operatives said traces of cattle grazing suggested possible links to armed herders.
“We engaged them in a serious gun duel, but they managed to escape deeper into the forest. Their camps have been dismantled, and Edo will no longer serve as a safe haven for criminal elements,” Ewanta added, assuring residents that the crackdown will continue until the perpetrators are arrested.
He commended Governor Okpebholo for his firm commitment to improving security across the state, noting that the administration’s coordinated approach is rebuilding public confidence and sending a strong warning to criminal networks.
Governor Okpebholo has consistently reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance against crime, insisting that kidnappers and violent groups will be relentlessly pursued.
